Smart backs Ateneo’s return to cage league

After a two-year absence, Ateneo de Manila University will be back in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) with Smart, the leading telecommunication firm in the country, as the Blue Eagles’ new sponsor.

This was announced yesterday by league chairman Dioceldo Sy after learning that Manny Pangilinan, top official of Smart and the Talk N’ Text team in the PBA, is close to obtaining a PBL franchise for the 2002 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions.

"This is a super great news because Smart is a very solid company and its entry would definitely help the league," Sy told The STAR.

Sy said Pangilinan and Chino Trinidad, who has returned to the PBL fold as its commissioner, are set to meet today to discuss the re-entry into the league of the Eagles, who beat the Detergent Kings in four games for the title two years ago.

Ateneo was also given a go-signal by the Lamoiyan franchise, which owns reigning 2003 PBL Platinum Cup titlist Fash Liquid Laundry Detergent, to see action in the league as it allowed several of its players to play for the varsity team this conference.

"I’ve heard Ateneo will decide on Friday (today) if they are going to field a separate team in the PBL," said Bernard Yang, Fash team manager. "As for Mr. Cecilio Pedro (Lamoiyan president), okay lang sa kanya ipa-loan yung mga Ateneo players kung may team nga sila, but we will keep their rights," he added referring to Larry Fonacier, Paolo Bugia, Douglas Kramer, LA Tenorio and JC Intal. — Joey Villar